FERRUM, VA, August 5, 2026 — Ferrum College is proud to announce its 2026 Sports Hall of Fame class, honoring seven former student-athletes whose accomplishments reflect the College’s tradition of athletic excellence and community leadership. This year’s class includes three football players, two baseball players, one softball player, and one women’s lacrosse player.
“At Ferrum College, we celebrate not just athletic excellence, but the enduring impact our alumni make on their communities and the world,” said Ferrum College President Mirta Martin. “This Hall of Fame class represents the very best of what it means to be a Panther—resilient, service-minded, and committed to living our motto, Not Self, But Others. We are proud to honor their legacies and welcome them back home to Ferrum.”
Jim Altis ’68, Midlothian, Virginia – Football
A standout defensive back under legendary Ferrum coach Hank Norton, Altis helped lead the Panthers to a 15-1-1 record during his two seasons, including a berth in the 1966 NJCAA national championship game. After earning an associate’s degree in business administration from Ferrum, he continued his football career at the University of Richmond, where he helped the Spiders capture Southern Conference championships in 1968 and 1969. He played a key role in Richmond’s 1968 Tangerine Bowl victory with an interception and two fumble recoveries. Altis was later recognized as part of Richmond’s inaugural “Spider Team of Distinction” and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1970. He also served in the United States Marine Corps, reaching the rank of corporal, and went on to a successful career as a business owner and community leader.
Richard “Dickie” Childress ’74, Midlothian, Virginia – Football
A member of Ferrum’s 1974 NJCAA national championship team, Childress played football for the Panthers from 1972 to 1974 under legendary head coach Hank Norton. Following his Ferrum career, he earned a football scholarship to the University of Richmond, where he helped the Spiders win the 1975 Southern Conference championship and earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors. Childress set a Richmond single-game record with 24 tackles during the 1975 season and was recognized three times as the Richmond Times-Dispatch Player of the Week. After beginning his coaching career at the high school level, he returned to Virginia and founded his own locksmith business in 1981, building a successful company that has served the Richmond area for more than four decades. He was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame in 2018.
Kaitlyn Culler Hicks ’13, Kingsport, Tennessee – Softball
One of the most accomplished pitchers in Ferrum softball history, Hicks competed for the Panthers from 2010 to 2013 under head coach Vickie Van Kleeck, helping lead Ferrum to a 127-55 record during her career. She helped guide the Panthers to the 2012 USA South Athletic Conference Tournament championship and the 2013 USA South regular season championship while becoming the program’s all-time leader in pitching victories with 57 career wins. Hicks finished her career with a 1.73 ERA and ranks among Ferrum’s top single-season pitchers with a 1.21 ERA in 2013. She was named USA South Pitcher of the Year in 2013 and earned multiple All-USA South, All-Region, and VaSID honors throughout her career. A four-time Academic All-USA South selection, Hicks graduated cum laude with degrees in Biology and Health Sciences before earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Campbell University.
Brooke Hewartson-Thomas ’13, Stephenson, Virginia – Women’s Lacrosse
Hewartson-Thomas established herself as the most decorated women’s lacrosse player in Ferrum history during her career from 2010 to 2013. She became the first Panther to earn USA South Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year honors in 2010 and earned first-team All-USA South honors in all four seasons, becoming one of the rare four-time first-team selections in conference history. She helped elevate Ferrum women’s lacrosse while setting numerous program records, including career points, points in a season, points in a game, and goals in a game. A two-time USA South All-Tournament Team selection, Hewartson-Thomas finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in offensive production and remains one of the most accomplished athletes in Ferrum women’s sports history. She currently serves as Title Relationship Partner at Pride Settlement and is the proud mother of three daughters with her husband, Jonathan.
Daryl Irvine ’85, Grottoes, Virginia – Baseball
Among the select group of Ferrum baseball alumni to reach Major League Baseball, Irvine played for the Panthers from 1983 to 1985 before being selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (20th overall) of the 1985 MLB Draft. Selected in the MLB Draft three times before signing with Boston, Irvine was regarded as one of the top collegiate pitching prospects of his era. He advanced through the Red Sox organization, reaching Triple-A before making his Major League debut in 1990. Irvine pitched three seasons with Boston from 1990 to 1992, appearing in 41 career games, and was twice named International League Relief Pitcher of the Year during his professional career. He enjoyed a nine-year professional baseball career before returning to the Shenandoah Valley, where he has served as an assistant golf professional at Massanutten Resort for nearly three decades.
Chad Maddox ’95, Rustburg, Virginia – Baseball
A four-year standout for Ferrum baseball from 1992 to 1995, Maddox served as team captain during his final two seasons and received the Ferrum President’s Cup in 1995. He earned first-team All-Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and All-Region honors in each of his final three seasons while also receiving DIAC All-Academic recognition. Maddox finished his career as one of Ferrum’s most productive hitters, holding school records for career at-bats, career hits, single-season RBI, and RBI in a game, and was later named to the USA South 50th Anniversary Baseball Team. Following his playing career, he became a Certified Public Accountant and has owned and operated his own CPA firm since 2001. Maddox has also dedicated years of service to professional organizations, community boards, and youth baseball and softball programs.
Chris Silk ’07, Richmond, Virginia – Football
A record-setting tight end for Ferrum football from 2003 to 2006, Silk became the first Panther athlete to earn four first-team All-Conference selections during his career. He earned first-team All-USA South honors in each of his four seasons and received D3Football.com All-Region, VaSID All-State, and Roanoke Times All-State honors in 2006. A member of the USA South 50th Anniversary Football Team, Silk established Ferrum records for career receiving touchdowns, career yards per reception, and single-season yards per reception, finishing his career with 47 receptions for 1,060 yards and 24 touchdowns. After graduating cum laude from Ferrum, he earned a master’s degree in Criminal Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati while serving in the United States Navy. Today, Silk serves with the Henrico Police Department, including the department’s SWAT Team, and has earned multiple honors for his law enforcement work.
The 2026 inductees will be formally honored during an on-campus Hall of Fame Ceremony on the morning of Saturday, September 5. Later that day, they will be recognized during the halftime of Ferrum’s home football game against Emory & Henry University, with kickoff set for 2:00 p.m. at W.B. Adams Stadium. For more information about attending this year’s Sports Hall of Fame ceremony and to register, use the button below or click here.
